8 cultural personalities who will be conferred with the Ekushey Padak

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has unveiled the recipients of the prestigious Ekushey Padak, the second-highest civilian award in Bangladesh.

The 2024 Ekushey Padak has been conferred upon 8 cultural personalities, among a total of 14 recipients.

Among the recipients are late novelist Shahidul Zahir (Md Shahidul Haque) and poet Helal Hafiz, who will be honoured posthumously for their contributions to Language and Literature. Renowned photographer, founder of Drik Gallery and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, Shahidul Alam, will receive the award for his work in Culture and Education. Filmmaker Azizur Rahman, famed for his work on “Chhutir Ghonta”, will be conferred the award posthumously for his contributions to Arts (Cinema), while Ustad Nirad Baran Barua and Ferdous Ara will be honored for Music. Nasir Ali Mamun will be recognized for Arts (Photography), and Rokeya Sultana will receive the award for Arts (Fine Arts).

Cultural Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki shared his thoughts on the significance of these honorees, stating, “Legendary individuals like these are far beyond any medals. I don’t believe they work for awards. The state honours them to say, ‘We are grateful for your contribution.'”

He also expressed gratitude towards the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the National Committee for their diligent work on the Ekushey Padak, adding, “We’ve been working closely for the Ekushey Padak of 2025, and I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all involved.”

The Ekushey Padak, named after February 21—International Mother Language Day—serves as a tribute to the language martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the 1952 Language Movement to protect and promote the Bengali language. The award symbolizes a deep recognition of their ultimate sacrifice and the ongoing legacy of language and culture.

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